United down Taipans to extend NBL lead

Melbourne United have maintained their place at the top of the NBL ladder after defeating the Cairns Taipans 79-68 in the Australian Open clash.

The first NBL match to be played at Hisense Arena during the grand slam tennis event started on Wednesday night as a low-scoring affair but import Casper Ware's 24 points ensured the home fans went home happy.

After winning four of five away games since Boxing Day, United registered their ninth win in 10 games.

The Taipans shot a miserable 20 per cent from the field in the first half and struggled to convert second-chance opportunities, despite pulling down 24 offensive rebounds.

Mitch McCarron (16 points) and Alex Loughton (11 points) lifted Cairns in the second half but the loss left them well adrift of fourth spot.

Both sides took time to adjust to the open-air conditions but, after McCarron's first three-pointer gave Cairns a narrow lead, David Barlow answered with a triple and United went on an 11-1 run to lead at quarter-time by eight points.

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Ware found his range to extend Melbourne's lead early in the second quarter and, while the visitors hung tough, missed shots cost them. Goulding's first three-pointer sent Melbourne into halftime ahead 35-25.

United import Carrick Felix made a thunderous one-handed dunk early in the third but Cairns closed to four points when Wesley picked up his fourth foul on a Nnanna Egwu basket.

Scoochie Smith closed the gap to two points early in the final term but an Egwu foul and a Ware three-pointer gave his side breathing space.

Ware nailed another triple to push the margin out to eight with less than three minutes to play.

United on Sunday are away to the improving Sydney while the Taipans travel to face Illawarra.

"We were a little out of sync tonight but Casper was good enough to put the team on his shoulders for that fourth quarter," Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman said.

Ware scored 11 points in the final term, including three triples.

Taipans coach Aaron Fearne lamented his side's poor shooting, especially in the first half, but praised Melbourne's physicality in defence.

"We were better in the second half, for sure," Fearne said. "But if you want to be a playoff team or a championship-calibre team, you can't play 20 minutes of basketball."